Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-11

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The graph below shows the number of tourists visiting a particular Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

As the graph below shows the number of tourists visiting a particular Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017 which shows that the total number of visitors rose steadily from 2010 to 2017 to 3.5 million.

As the number of visitors that are staying on cruise ships in 2010 was slightly less than 0.5 million conversely, the number of visitors that are staying on island was slightly higher than 0.5 million following this in 201 they both are nearly 0.5 million or slightly higher than 0.5 whereas in 2012 to 2017 the number of visitors staying on the cruise ships increased steadily from less than 0.5 to 2 million.

Moreover the number of visitors staying on Island are higher from the visitors staying on cruise ships from 2012 to 2015 whereas in 2016 and 2017 it is slightly lower nearly 1.5 million.

Overall the total number of visitors increases from 1 million to 3.5 million from 2010 to 2017.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the graph, such as the overall upward trend and the comparison between cruise ship and island visitors. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial and lacks precision. For instance, the statement 'in 201 they both are nearly 0.5 million' is unclear and contains a typo. While the main trends are identified, the report lacks a clear, analytical overview that synthesizes the data effectively. The description of the data points is occasionally repetitive and lacks the necessary detail to fully support the trends described, leading to a somewhat mechanical summary rather than a comprehensive report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical progression is hindered by awkward sentence structures and a lack of varied cohesive devices. The use of 'As' at the beginning of the first two sentences is repetitive and creates a run-on effect. Transitions between ideas are often abrupt, such as the shift from the 2010 data to the 2012-2017 period. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the two categories of visitors smoothly. More sophisticated linking words are needed to improve the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'number of visitors' are used repeatedly, which limits the lexical range. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'staying on island' instead of 'staying on the island'. The response lacks the use of more precise, academic vocabulary related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'surpassed'. To improve, you should aim to incorporate a wider variety of synonyms and more precise collocations to describe trends and comparisons.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'As the graph below shows... which shows that' is a redundant and grammatically incorrect structure. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement, such as 'the number of visitors... are higher', and missing articles. Punctuation is inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas to separate clauses. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band.

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